According to data provided by crocierissime.it, the first Italian site entirely dedicated to the world of cruises, 30% of Italians intend to go on a cruise this year. Many of them are already veterans who know the benefits of this type of vacation, but for others it will be their first cruise.
A cruise presents all the advantages of an organized trip and none of the disadvantages. Traveling aboard a large or smaller ship, depending on your tastes, allows you to see many places without having to pack and unpack your bags every time, to have everything comfortably on board and at your fingertips: restaurants, swimming pools and leisure areas , games, shows, culture and relaxation areas, spas, the opportunity to meet people and socialize or to isolate yourself on a deckchair to read a book, according to your tastes.
How to survive your first cruise
Who has already been on a cruise – around 30 million worldwide in 2019 and this year the numbers are expected to approach this figure – you know the advantages and perhaps some of the disadvantages too, but for those on their first cruise, the Crocierissime experts have prepared ten tips to keep in mind.
1. Choosing the right ship
It seems obvious, but it’s not. The cruise offer is huge and the destinations to which one can travel are alluring. As well as the different companies and ship types, length of voyage, types of staterooms, what is included and what is not, and so on. It’s important carefully analyze what you are looking for for your first cruise. Perhaps the best thing to do is consult a good cruise search engine, which offers all the information you need. It is not advisable to choose a cruise that is too long and with many stops, it is necessary to leave time for the vacationers to enjoy the ship and see how it feels to sail. It’s good too choose the type of cabin you want among the wide offer but considering that you only spend a short time on a cruise because the ship’s offer is vast throughout the day… and at night. The price differences are also huge.
2. Book in advance
It doesn’t just apply to cruising, in general it is essential to always book in advance for a holiday: flights, trains, hotels, excursions, etc. As you get closer to your chosen date, prices increase. Almost all companies make special offers, sometimes with discounts of up to 50%, at the beginning of the year for spring or summer travel. Bookings can be made for a nominal fee and, in most cases, can always be canceled at no extra cost. Some companies also offer the possibility of making a better price if you find a cheaper offer for the same cruise. So be organized and book as early as possible. And it is always advisable to take out as many insurances as possible.
3. Book excursions in advance
At the budget for the crossing, which is relatively low these days, the cost of the excursions must be added, which are almost never included. Booking them on board is usually expensive and there may be no more seats available. In some cases they are essential: for example, the most important airports on the western Italian coast are Civitavecchia or Livorno, but nobody stops there, but we continue on the unmissable excursion to Rome, Florence or Pisa. Other places you can visit on your own, such as Venice, Naples or the cities of Sicily. Booking in advance often saves money. Some people seek out these excursions on their own, disengaging from the ship, with other agencies or even by hiring a taxi or minibus for a small group. It is probably cheaper, but it is advisable to make sure that you have turned to professionals who do not disappoint your expectations.
4. Arrive a day or two early
Most cruises it leaves on the first day in the afternoon/evening and boarding takes place well in advance to load the luggage, take them to the cabins, check in, have a first look at the ship, etc. However, it can be a good idea to arrive in your departure city a day or two earlier, not only to anticipate a possible flight delay, but also to adjust to schedule changes or jet lag, to visit the city, even if only briefly , see the distance from the port, maybe do some shopping before boarding. It is worth knowing, for example, that most airlines allow you to bring some drinks on board, albeit with restrictions, as they are usually expensive if they are not included. Many companies, among other things, offer a drink package at a reasonable price.
5. Pay attention to the “not included”
Cruise fares they usually cover cabin costs, meals, onboard activities and entertainment. But, in many cases, there are additional costs for drinks packages, tips, internet connection, shore excursions, taxes and port charges… Therefore, what Crocierissime recommends, is to check with the search engine, the company or the agency of trips booked, what is included and what is not, and calculate the additional costs.
6. Bring hand luggage
On cruises there is usually no luggage limit, although cabin lockers are not large, but it is true that there are gala evenings or that the weather can change suddenly depending on the stopovers and it is good to have suitable clothing for every occasion and eventuality. Typically, bags are left at the embarkation dock, once tagged and assigned, and crew members are responsible for bringing them on board while passengers check-in. However it is It is advisable to carry a small hand luggage with the most essential items: medicines, toiletries, a change of clothes, personal items, etc. because sometimes the luggage takes a long time to reach the cabin.
7. Don’t go to the buffet the first day
The temptation to know the gastronomic offer that can be enjoyed on board – all cruises include full board, in many cases very complete – especially if in the form of a buffet, is great. This is what most passengers think, but maybe the most practical thing to do is to discover the offer at another time or the next day, because the whole ship will be there for that first lunch or dinner. It might be a good idea to go to one of the other restaurants that the ship offers with pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, a la carte food… and leave the buffet for another occasion, at a more leisurely pace. For meals à la carte or set menu, usually a table is assigned for each day of the cruise. On purpose, it is not recommended to take food off the ship for excursions or a picnic on the beachin many places there are health restrictions and specialized dogs that identify these forbidden foods and who has committed the “offence”.
8. Be careful with tipping
It is another aspect that should not be underestimated, which can unintentionally make a cruise more expensive. The general policy depends on each company. In some cases they are included in the price or a fixed amount is added to the final billbut it must be considered that they are not mandatory and if they are added, you can ask for them to be removed. In general, tips are not given directly to waiters, cooks, cleaning staff and other ship employees, but are deposited in an envelope and in a common mailbox in the amount that each deems appropriate and which will be divided equally among all. Some companies, especially American ones, have a tipping manual that lists the amounts per person per day for each of the workers the customer comes into contact with. If this “manual” is followed to the letter, the cost of tips can be higher than the cost of the cruise itself.
9. Forgetting the phone
Seems like an impossible thing, but you can live without a cell phone for a few days: it’s the right way to relax and enjoy all the good things that cruising has to offer. It’s also a good idea to do this to avoid surprises in your phone bill. The lack of coverage in many places and while browsing can force the device to go into roaming and costs fly up. If you really can’t do without the telephone, it’s better to do it during the stopovers, checking the rate applied in each place. The ideal is to put it in “airplane mode”, in this case “ship mode”.
10. Enjoy your own pace
Every day the passenger receives a copy of the ship’s daily program with activities and events on board and planned excursions. The supply can be overwhelming: movies, dance classes, arts and crafts, workshops, comedians, bands, performances, deck and pool games, massages and treatments, not to mention time to eat, swim, exercise , reading, chatting and sunbathing. Is it possible to get it all together? No, it is not, nor is it advisable, therefore everyone must make their best choices based on what they are looking for and dreams of during a holiday. If you don’t skim, you risk ending up being “overwhelmed” and having the feeling of needing another vacation once the cruise is over.
READ ALSO: 10 reasons why traveling improves your life
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2023-09-01 08:34:04
#survive #cruise
